Running Events

1 ) These guidelines will be used for all ECF events.
2 ) No one has the right to refuse to play another player against whom they have been correctly paired on the grounds of race, gender, age or impairment.
3 ) All chess venues must either be accessible to all, or an alternative venue of at least equal quality with full supervision to be available to those who cannot access the nominated venue.
4 ) A circular to be sent out when all competitors are known, or with any entry forms, asking if any potential competitor has an impairment that will require special circumstances.
5 ) No chess player to be penalised on a time parameter against the normal rates of play because of their impairment.
6 ) Any impaired competitor who reasonably requests the placing of their equipment in a particular seat or orientation, has the right to do so, provided that this does not disadvantage their opponent. The event director has to ensure that the needs of both players are catered for.
7 ) It is strongly recommended that any playing conditions are printed out and placed on all boards before the start of play, including maps of the venue showing the location of toilets, refreshments, bookstalls, emergency exits etc.
8 ) It is recommended that all events have a first aid kit with the tournament director in case of accident, and that the local hospital/doctor’s phone numbers are known.
9 ) If a competitor cannot access the refreshments/bookstall, arrangements should be made for their needs to be met.
10 ) If a competitor cannot press his/her own clock or move his/her own pieces, an assistant should be available if the opponent is not willing to do so.
11 ) If a player has made a prior request, copies of all notices should be available in large print. If a player is unable to read large print, then the notices must be read to her/him before the start of each round, and on request without disturbing other players.
12 ) It is strongly recommended that all congresses adopt these guidelines and include on their entry form a section allowing an entrant to indicate any impairment and the nature of that impairment or remedial actions which need to be taken.
13 ) It is recommended that all team events have the rule that if a visiting team indicates that it has a player with an impairment coming with them giving sufficient notice, that the home team does everything which is reasonable to ensure that that player can participate.
14 ) If there are any problems, please contact the Director of Home Chess or the Disability Officer.

Advice on running a Simultaneous Display

Decide on the type of display – open to all-comers, solely for juniors or a particular club? This will affect the choice of venue; if you want to attract interested members of the public, somewhere like a shopping mall can work well. Note that many locations will often give a venue free for some good publicity. Check that the proposed date does not clash with a local chess event or major occasion such as the FA Cup final.

If you need a player, contact the English Chess Federation Office.

Organise tables, chairs and chess sets; the first two are normally provided by the venue, the latter from a chess club.

Decide how to raise money. Will players pay a fee or might a local sponsor cover costs? You may decide to raise funds for a charity – sponsorship for a certain amount per move generally works well for juniors, while adults often prefer to pay a board fee.

Publicise the event through local papers, chess columns and magazines, local radio, clubs and schools, depending on the type of audience you wish to reach.

Try to get local firms or games shops, for example, to provide prizes for wins and draws.

On the day you will need assistance during the display; for example organising the players, providing refreshments, explaining to passers-by what is going on and generally being in charge.

After the event, report the results of the event to the providers of publicity and keep press cuttings and other media exposure – this will ease the task of finding a sponsor for the next event. Please send details of the event to the ECF office.

Advice on Publicising an Event

Good publicity is the key to organising a successful chess event. You will not only reach the largest possible audience and ensure that entries and attendance will reach maximum levels, but future sponsors have an indication of your organisational ability.
The following list of possible publicity outlets is by no means exhaustive, and not all may be appropriate for your requirements, but each is a proven method of providing publicity for chess events.

– for a local event, local newspapers are essential. Most local newspapers do not have a chess columnist so you should be prepared to provide suitable information in language which the layman will understand. Libraries will normally be happy to display a poster or information in the window.
– for larger events, consider approaching a national newspaper – a full list of chess journalists is to be found in the ECF Yearbook. Most columnists will consider publicising good chess events.
– the major chess magazines, Chess and British Chess Magazine, carry a list of forthcoming events every month at no cost. Remember that adequate notice must be given.
– there is a regular chess column on Teletext (currently page 153 on Channel 4) which carries a list of forthcoming events. Contact the Editor, whose details are displayed on the service.
– there is also a regular chess column on Ceefax (currently page 568) which carries a list of forthcoming events. Contact the Editor, whose details are displayed on the service.
– contact your local radio station – we have found that local radio is an excellent source of publicity, largely due to the mystique surrounding chess.
– contact all the chess clubs in the county – this will guarantee a wide audience within the chess-playing fraternity and beyond.
– contact schools in the area. Many schools now have enthusiastic chess clubs and chess is beginning to be recognised as being educationally beneficial.